Samsung Unveils New Tablet Device

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The details of the Galaxy Tab have arrived, can it stand up to the iPad?

By Scott Lowe

Today Samsung formally unveiled the Galaxy Tab, the first major alternative to Apple's iPad. Last week we got a first glimpse at the new tablet device, with the company teasing a few images and features of the new device last week, but now all of the facts are in, and Samsung may very well have a winner on their hands.

The design features a 7-inch TFT-LCD display with 1024 x 600 (WSVGA) resolution, a size of roughly 7.48" x 4.74" x 0.47", and an overall weight of less than a pound. It features a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video conferencing, a 3.0-megixel rear-facing camera with LED flash for still photography and video recording, as well as augmented reality applications. The right side of the device features a microSD slot for data storage expansion, and the Galaxy Tab connects to your PC via a 30-pin connector.

Under the hood, the Galaxy Tab is packing a powerful 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, 3G network support, 802.11n Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth 3.0 support, an integrated battery with 7 hours of battery life, a GPS receiver, and either 16GBs or 32GBs of internal storage, depending on which model you choose.

But the major allure of the Galaxy Tab, however, is the software, which is powered by Android 2.2 (aka Froyo). Samsung has designed some custom features into the Galaxy Tab, including a custom navigation interface that provides real-time GPS navigation, as well as comprehensive augmented reality interface provided by the built-in camera. When enabled, the augmented reality mode of the Galaxy Tab will show a user nearby restaurants, venues, as well as provide directions and extensive information about each.

The device also features eReader support via a custom interface called Readers Hub, that combines eBooks, magazines, and newspapers into one singular app. Video calls can also be made using the front-facing camera, though whether or not it will be made available over 3G connections remains unseen. Finally, the Galaxy Tab will support HD video playback for on-the-go video viewing.

The Galaxy Tab will make its debut in Europe later this month, and will be making its way to United States in the "coming months." A number of accessories have been announced, including a special leather carrying case, video output cable, an external keyboard dock, stylus, a car mount for GPS usage, and, of course, the usual array of chargers. Pricing information was not announced.